Ranking Every AEW Championship Reign Of 2023
2. Orange Cassidy - AEW International Championship
AEW has a belt problem and that is pretty evident. At the time of writing, quite unbelievably, they're about to add another to the mix. The International Championship was met with scorn and a lot of questions when it was added to AEW's already bloated cabinet of gold.
However, it has completely overshadowed the company's other mid-card prize, the TNT title, thanks to one man.
The International title became the real workhorse and TV championship for AEW thanks to Cassidy's 32 defences of the belt in 11 months. It was a wonderful combination of making sure the title was featured - often opening episodes of Dynamite - and the right man to do it.
Cassidy was already one of AEW's most genuinely over characters, and having a championship to represent made the lackadaisical OC even better. He built the title, which was a controversial addition at first, into something worthwhile by allowing it to affect his entire character - he was finally a man who wanted to try. It's the perfect example that both a champion and a championship can make the other at the same time.